Nick Kyrgios was in the Eurosport commentary booth as Novak Djokovic opened his 2024 Australian Open campaign against Dino Prizmic. Kyrgios spoke about the challenges of facing world No. 1 Djokovic and how he compares to legendary rivals Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer. Kyrgios also reflected on Nadal’s comeback and why he thinks this is “definitely his last year on the tour”.
Nick Kyrgios has compared the different challenges of facing Novak Djokovic, Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal – and why he “would have been a Wimbledon champion” if had faced anyone but Djokovic in the 2022 final.
As he took to the Eurosport commentary booth for the first time to watch defending champion Djokovic play at the Australian Open, Kyrgios divulged just what it is like to play the world No. 1 – and how he stacks up against his legendary rivals.
Djokovic holds the record for the most Grand Slams won in the men’s game at 24 – two ahead of Nadal and four clear of the retired Federer.
But despite Djokovic’s obvious Grand Slam success, Kyrgios believes most players would actually prefer to face him than Federer or Nadal.
“Rafa has that big game style and that physicality, big leftie, you know his patterns but you can’t do anything about it. And Roger Federer could make you feel so bad on the court, shrinking the court, taking time away from you, you never feel settled,” the Australian said.
“At least with Novak you know you’re going to have those exchanges, those long gruelling exchanges. You know you’re going to get warm, know you’re going to get into it.
“Then there’s the problem of trying to work out how to beat him, he’s like a ping-pong machine.”
Kyrgios knows full well what it is like to go toe to toe with Djokovic in a Slam, having faced him in the final of Wimbledon in 2022.
On that day, the Australian managed to win the first set and looked as if he could pull off an upset, only for Djokovic to roar back into the match to take it in four.
“I lost a Grand Slam final against the best to ever do it,” said Kyrgios.
“I joked that if it had been anyone else that day, Nick Kyrgios would have been a Wimbledon champion.”
As for Nadal, he is missing from the field in Melbourne after being forced to pull out with a minor muscle tear, sustained in his first tournament back after taking the vast majority of 2023 off due to a hip injury.
It’s a blow not just for the Spaniard, but for everyone waiting to see if Nadal still had what it takes to compete at the very top of the men’s game.
Kyrgios is currently out with injury having played just once in 2023, and reflected on the challenges Nadal is facing in his comeback.
“That’s the fear with all athletes, you come back and put in the work – and a great champion like Rafa, puts in a year of work, comes back a bit early and then re-aggravates something that’s been keeping him out,” said Kyrgios.
“Honestly, I hope he stays and plays because we all know how much he means to the sport and how much he entertains when he plays, with his physicality.
“Realistically, I would say this is definitely his last year on the tour and I think his eyes will be set on the French Open and that’s about it.”
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